The call led police in Oregon, Ohio, to arrest a man on a domestic violence charge earlier this month. Now, they’re praising the quick thinking of the woman who faked a pizza request to discreetly get help as her mother was allegedly punched, pushed into a wall and threatened with more violence.

Some police departments have pushed back on the pizza tactic, saying they may not identify a food order as a cry for help from someone worried about alerting others. News reports have debunked myths — circulated on social media — that dispatchers are commonly trained to see hidden meaning in a request for pepperoni pizza and then launch into a script of yes-or-no questions.

Teneyck says he was never taught to treat a pizza call with suspicion; he’s fielded actual wrong-number attempts to order the dish and estimates that about half the calls he handles are mistakes. But he was taught to listen to each call carefully.

“If it’s your only option, and that abusive person is next to you and listening to everything you say, then by all means — you call and order that pizza,” he told The Washington Post.

Domestic violence prevention groups have promoted the pizza strategy. A PSA aired during the 2015 Super Bowl showed a woman using the same tactic with the tagline, “When it’s hard to talk, it’s up to us to listen.”

At times, authorities have cautioned against treating pizza as a sort of code word.

“This is false. Text to 911 is a much better option,” the Los Angeles Police Department tweeted in response to one post that gained traction last year promoting “pepperoni pizza” as a magic word. “Your exact location & the nature of your emergency is what’s needed to send the right resources.”

(iStock)

The 911 line in Oregon, Ohio, cannot receive texts, though, according to Teneyck. He says anyone worried about being overheard should do whatever they can to keep an open line with emergency responders, so that police can hear what’s going on.

Audio released to local news organizations shows Teneyck caught on quickly to the daughter’s real reason for calling.

“I’m getting ya now,” he said about 20 seconds in, after she told him, “You’re not understanding.”

Police arrested Simon Lopez, 56, who was jailed on a charge of domestic violence, according to court records. The public defender’s office, which is representing Lopez, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and The Post was unable to reach Lopez.

The alleged victim told police Lopez came home intoxicated and started arguing with her, then punched her on the arm with a closed first and shoved her so that she fell into a wall, the Toledo Blade reported.

Lopez was “disorderly, loud, verbally and physically abusive,” she reportedly told police, adding that he said he would beat her. Lopez denied her allegations, according to police records reviewed by the Blade.

Teneyck said he was doing what’s routine to dispatchers: taking every call seriously and following up even on wrong dials. But he worries others might have ended the conversation too soon.

“I do believe that in other cases, it’s a very real possibility that another dispatcher in a larger jurisdiction could have handled it differently and lost the call,” he said.

Oregon Police Chief Michael Navarre told the Blade that he is “extremely proud” of Teneyck’s work — and plans to use the pizza call in training.

“He picked up on a woman who was in distress, but was in a position where she couldn’t convey it to him in those words,” Navarre said.

In pictures: The best images from around the world this week [Photos]

Christchurch, New Zealand

Lightning strikes near an Emirates A380 plane at Christchurch Airport on Nov. 20.

Washington, DC, US

Former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama reacts as a girl tells her that she is a competitive figure skater. The girl was accompanied by her mother to buy signed copies of Obama’s book “Becoming” at the Politics and Prose Bookstore on Nov. 18.

North Korea

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un poses with air force sharpshooters and soldiers for a photo at an unknown location on Nov. 18.

London, England

The Palm House at Kew Gardens is illuminated during a preview for the “Christmas at Kew” event on Nov. 19.

Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Protesters use bricks to barricade the road near Hong Kong Polytechnic University on Nov. 18. Anti-government protesters organized a general strike since Nov. 18, demanding an independent inquiry into police brutality.

El Alto, Bolivia

Supporters of former President Evo Morales stand next to soldiers guarding the road that leads to the state-owned Senkata fuel plant, on Nov. 19.

Chennai, India

Muslims of Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath organization hold placards and shout slogans as they protest against the Supreme Court verdict on a disputed religious site in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, on Nov. 18.

Xuyi, China

People ride a boat on the Tianquan Lake during a foggy day on Nov. 20.

Auckland, New Zealand

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, receives a traditional Maori welcome from members of the New Zealand Armed Forces on the lawn of the Government House on Nov. 18.

Whitby, England

Designs of giant footprints were created on the Whitby Bay Beach, illustrating the carbon footprint of electric vehicles compared to petrol and diesel cars, on Nov. 20.

Monte Carlo, Monaco

Jacques, Hereditary Prince of Monaco and Princess Gabriella, Countess of Carladès, pose at the palace balcony during the Monaco National Day Celebrations, on Nov. 19.

Bratislava, Slovakia

People gather during the “For a decent Slovakia” protest on Nov. 17, as part of the commemorations of the peaceful Velvet Revolution that toppled the Communist regime in former Czechoslovakia 30 years ago.

Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa (C) arrives to take oath of office during his swearing-in ceremony at the Ruwanwelisaya temple on Nov. 18.

Vatican City

St. Peter’s Basilica is reflected in a pool of rainwater on Nov. 18.

Sydney, Australia

Vistors at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair overlook a smoke-covered Sydney Harbour on Nov. 19. New South Wales remains under severe or very high fire danger warnings as more than 50 wildfires continue to burn across the state.

Santiago, Chile

Demonstrators clash with riot police during protests against President Sebastián Piñera on Nov. 18.

Athens, Greece

The ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill is lit blue during a rehearsal for UNICEF’s World Children’s Day celebrations, on Nov. 19.

Dubai, UAE

Aircrafts of the Patrouille de France spray colored smoke during a performance on the opening day of the Dubai Airshow on Nov. 17.

Tuzamapan, Mexico

People watch a cantoya balloon during the International Festival of Paper Artistic Balloons, on Nov. 17.

Oslo, Norway

Mayor of Oslo Marianne Borgen (L) and Ruth Bush, Councillor of London’s Westminster district, saw down the tree that will stand at the Trafalgar Square in London, England, this Christmas, on Nov. 19.

Havana, Cuba

People gather at the Malecón waterfront to watch the fireworks on the eve of the city’s 500th anniversary, on Nov. 15.

Bardney, England

A car is seen partly submerged in floodwater after the Barlings Eau river broke its banks, on Nov. 15.

Santa Clarita, California, US

A woman and two girls visit a makeshift memorial for victims of the shooting at Saugus High School, in Central Park on Nov. 15.

Catania, Italy

A snow-capped Mount Etna is seen from the Port of Riposto on Nov. 15.

Guwahati, India

A ferry travels along the Brahmaputra river during sunset on Nov. 15.

Naples, Italy

Visitors click pictures of the art installation of Liu Ruowang at the Town Hall square, which represents 90 wolves threatening a warrior, on Nov. 11.

Guangzhou, China

Buildings are illuminated during the Guangzhou International Light Festival 2019, on Nov. 18.